The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has refuted recent media reports and political commentary suggesting that American-born children are being deported, labeling the claims “false and irresponsible.” In a statement issued by the DHS Office of Public Affairs, officials asserted that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents acted within the law and prioritized family unity in two high-profile cases recently highlighted.
“Once again, the media is shamefully peddling a false narrative in an attempt to demonize our ICE enforcement agents, who are already facing a 300% surge in assaults against them. The media and Democratic politicians are force-feeding the public false information that U.S. citizen children are being deported,” the statement criticized.
According to DHS, both cases involved mothers with final orders of deportation—Jenny Carolina Lopez-Villela and Reachel Alexas Morales-Valle—who were given the option to leave the country alone or depart with their children. In both instances, the mothers voluntarily chose to take their American-born children with them to Honduras, presenting valid U.S. passports for each child before departure.
“Jenny Carolina Lopez-Villela illegally entered this country three times: in September 2019, March 2021, and August 2021. She and her older daughter were deemed inadmissible to the United States during her first entry, and both received final orders of removal in March 2020. When taken into ICE custody in April 2025, she chose to bring her younger daughter, an American citizen, with her to Honduras and presented a valid U.S. passport,” DHS stated.
Morales-Valle, who entered the U.S. unlawfully in 2013 and was ordered deported in 2015, was taken into ICE custody in April 2025 after being arrested for traffic violations in Louisiana, according to DHS. She also chose to leave with her two U.S. citizen children.
DHS stated that in both cases, ICE agents provided the mothers with options, including placing the children with a designated guardian in the U.S. if they preferred not to take them abroad. “Rather than separate their families, ICE asked the mothers if they wanted to be removed with their children or if they wanted ICE to place the children with someone safe the parent designated. Both mothers chose to depart with their children,” the statement explained.
The department reaffirmed its commitment to child safety and pointed to the use of the CBP One app—rebranded by the Trump administration from the CBP Home App—as a resource for undocumented parents wishing to self-deport and potentially re-enter the U.S. legally. The app, DHS noted, offers a pathway for families to “take full control of their departure” and explore legal reentry options.
“DHS takes its responsibility to protect children seriously and will continue to work with federal law enforcement to ensure that children are safe and protected,” the agency said.
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Susan Shrestha
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